Orwell Lake. (U.S. Corps of Engineers)
Fergus Falls, MN – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will draw down the pool at Orwell Dam, near Fergus Falls, mid-August to facilitate repairs and inspection mid-September.
To prepare for the repairs and inspection, the reservoir will be drawn down 14 feet starting around August 15. The draw down will take approximately 30 days, and the rate will be limited to around 0.5 feet/day. A full draw down is anticipated around September 15.
To safely complete the repairs and inspection, bulkheads will be used to shut off the spillway flow. This will cause some reduction of outflow and minor drop in downstream river levels. The bulkheads are scheduled to be placed around September 15 and removed by September 19, weather dependent. While the bulkheads are in place, the two low water control pipes in the abutment walls will be used to maintain a flow of 80 cubic feet per second. After the repair and inspection, river levels will gradually return to normal, and the pool is expected to be refilled in 3-4 weeks, depending on rainfall.
The repairs will consist of replacing the chains on the Tainter Gate and rehabbing the floor drains. A diving inspection of the underwater features of the structure will also be completed. The repairs and inspection will allow for continued safe performance of the dam when needed and to schedule future maintenance activities.
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